In a miraculous recovery after three months in a coma a young Devon dad is now back with his family and looking forward to his son's first birthday.

Teignmouth fisherman Jason Bunce, 25, was given only a 50/50 chance of survival after being left in a critical condition after the crash last April. When he was first brought out of the medically-induced coma he had no memories of his previous life and didn't even recognise his own family and baby son Noah.

But gradually Jason has fought his way back to health and aims to learn to drive again and get back to work.

His partner Ashleigh White said: "We never thought he would be back with us like this. He had no recollection of any of us at all.

"The hospital warned us that it's not like the TV shows where they wake up and know everybody. It takes a long time. He still hasn't got many memories from before.

"But now he's walking and talking and playing with Noah and he wants to learn to drive and get back to work. He feels like his old self to me. I'm just pleased that I've got him back.

"With all that's happened he's spent more time with his son. We had a normal first Christmas for Noah and now we are planning Noah's first birthday later in January, the day before Jason's 26th birthday."

Jason and Noah just before the hit-and-run

The 25-year-old was on a night out with friends when a car ploughed into him on April 8 2017 in Gestridge Road in Kingsteignton at 12.50am.

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Jason said: “I didn’t remember anything from the accident to after coming out of the coma, it has taken time for my memory to come back.

“I was like a kid – I had to learn how to swallow, but my speech was alright. I’m amazed at how well I’ve recovered.

“Being in hospital was horrible, I just wanted to be home, but Ashleigh, Noah and my family visited everyday.

“Things are quite good, I’m just glad to be home. The only thing that has changed is I can’t drive and I’m not working yet.

“Now I’m nearly how I used to be and I like it. I can go out on my own, get a bus and I just go and watch the boats come in and land fish.

“I loved my job – I will be going back.

After the crash Jason was put in an induced coma for about two weeks and underwent surgery for his brain haemorrhage and broken leg.

After three months at Derriford Hospital, Jason was able to go home in July.

He said his family were all “surprised” at how well he had pulled through from the catastrophic injuries he suffered.

Although Jason needed to relearn how to eat and drink, he was able to talk and walk after waking from the coma. He walked with crutches for six weeks while his leg was healing, but other than that he has healed in a miraculous way.

In August, Jason’s father Steve said: "What the police have found is a slither of paint on Jason's clothing which was blue so we're now looking for a blue small saloon/hatchback car that in the early hours of April 8 was travelling along the Exeter Road/ Gestridge Road turning in Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot."

"We've got to do what we can to keep it in the limelight because I think someone is covering for the driver.

"We just need to get hold of some eyewitnesses or get someone to do the right thing. He or she could do this again to someone else, that's the worrying part about it.”

Jason said: “If I was them [the driver] I would come forward.

“If we ever find out who did it, I would just ask them why they didn’t stop.”

Jason will celebrate his 26th birthday later this month, and his son Noah turns one the day before – they are planning to throw him a party.

Anyone with information which could help the investigation is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 53 of April 8.